LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the ninth inning junior
Ben Harmon watched the 3-1 pitch cross through the left-handed batter's box for ball four, breaking the tie and winning the game for Little Rock in walk-off fashion. The win over UCA improves the Trojans record to 6-4 on the season as they take the opening game of the Governor's I-40 Showdown season long series.
Little Rock starter
Noah Burkey and Bears starter Cade Fenton took turns tossing up zeros on the scoreboard through the first two and a half innings with just the occasional baserunner. Neither offense was able to get much going in the early innings of the game with the Trojan defense turning two inning-ending double plays in the second and third.
The stalemate was broken in the bottom of the third inning. A hit by pitch of Harmon followed by a double from
Alex Seguine scored Harmon all the way from first base.
Tyler Williams would then single with two outs to bring in Seguine and the Trojans lead grew to two runs.
Central Arkansas was able to get those two runs back in the top of the fourth with a bases loaded single that tied the game for the Bears. Burkey was able to navigate out of the inning without any more damage by striking out Dylan Cyr and getting a lineout from Jack Angus that was snagged by
Nico Baumbach at third base.
Austin Stubber came out of the bullpen in relief of Burkey in the top of the fifth and faced the minimum number of batters through the first two innings of his outing. Central Arkansas had brought a bullpen arm of its own into the game in Oliver Laufman, who was able to keep the Trojan offense in check for the next several innings despite Little Rock threatening with runners in scoring position in two of those innings.
After a single and failed sacrifice bunt in the top of the eighth,
Jacob Weatherley came into the game and escaped the inning while keeping the game knotted at two, striking out one batter in the process. Following a scoreless ninth inning from Weatherley the game could either end in heartbreak or walk-off, and the Trojans picked the latter.
The Bears took the initiative in aiding Little Rock to the walk-off victory, walking
Skyler Trevino and
Jake Wright to begin the inning with an intentional base on balls to
Ty Rhoades after that, loading the bases with no outs. Harmon then stepped to the plate and took ball one from Laufman before being replaced by Tate Busey on the bump. Busey worked to a 3-1 count and then delivered the walk-off win to the Trojans via base on balls.
The walk-off win for the Trojans is the first since May 1, 2022, when Little Rock defeated Louisiana Monroe 7-6 at Gary Hogan Field.
Stubber was impressive out of the bullpen in today's game, giving up no runs in 3.1 innings pitched. The senior from Hope, Arkansas allowed just two hits and struck out five in his appearance.
Weatherley earned the win for the Trojans, pitching the final 1.2 innings and giving up no runs on one hit with two strikeouts.
Harmon reached base three times in his four plate appearances being walked, hit by a pitch, and singling. He also scored the opening run for the Trojans as well as bringing in the walk-off run with the walk.
Little Rock will be back in action this Friday when Grambling comes to town for a three game series with first pitch at 3 p.m. at Gary Hogan Field.
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